CORK COUNTY COUNCIL COMHAIRLE CONTAE CHORCAÍ RIVER BLACKWATER WWTP DISCHARGES – CERTIFICATES OF AUTHORISATION NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. APRIL 2011 CONSULTING ENGINEERS Sherwood House, Sherwood Avenue, Taylor’s Hill, Galway Suite D4, The Cubes Offices, Beacon S outh Quarter, Sandyford Dublin 18 EPA Export 30-04-2011:03:49:50 Quality Control CLIENT CORK COUNTY COUNCIL PROJECT NO 2192 RIVER BLACKWATER WWTP DISCHARGES – CERTIFICATES OF PROJECT TITLE AUTHORISATION REPORT TITLE NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT Rev. Status Author(s) Reviewed By Approved By Issue Date 1 ISSUE GH MJ MJ 19.04.2011 For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Natura Impact Statement Page 2 EPA Export 30-04-2011:03:49:50 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................6 1.1 BACKGROUND.....................................................................................................................6 1.2 APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT – LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT...............................................7 1.3 NATURA 2000 SITES ........................................................................................................ 10 1.4 SCHEME LOCATIONS....................................................................................................... 11 2 METHODOLOGY..................................................................................... 14 2.1 DESK STUDY....................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 CONSULTATION................................................................................................................ 14 2.3 FIELD SURVEYS .................................................................................................................. 15 3 ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................... 16 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE BLACKWATER RIVER CATCHMENT.............. 17 4.1 BACKGROUND.................................................................................................................. 17 4.2 BLACKWATER RIVER SPECIAL AREA OF CONSERVATION ...................................... 18 4.2.1 Details of site designation ........................................................................................................18 4.2.2 Conservation status of qualifying interest habitats species...............................................20 4.2.3 Additional habitats and species of conservation interest ..................................................22 4.3 FURTHER NOTES ON THE SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST....................... 24 4.3.1 Salmonids .....................................................................................................................................24 4.3.2 Otter..............................................................................................................................................25 4.3.3 White-clawed Crayfish.............................................................................................................26 4.3.4 Lamprey species .................................... For inspection purposes................................................... only. ..................................27 Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. 4.3.5 Twaite Shad.................................................................................................................................29 4.3.6 Killarney Fern ..............................................................................................................................30 4.3.7 Freshwater Pearl Mussel ...........................................................................................................31 4.4 PRESSURES.......................................................................................................................... 36 4.4.1 Drainage ......................................................................................................................................36 4.4.2 Barriers .........................................................................................................................................36 4.4.3 Agriculture practices ..................................................................................................................36 4.4.4 Fords..............................................................................................................................................37 4.4.5 Abstractions..................................................................................................................................37 4.4.6 Forestry.........................................................................................................................................38 4.4.7 On-site waste water treatment systems.................................................................................39 4.4.8 Waste Water Treatment Plants ..............................................................................................39 4.4.9 Quarries........................................................................................................................................39 4.4.10 Miscellaneous...............................................................................................................................39 5 CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................... 40 Natura Impact Statement Page 3 EPA Export 30-04-2011:03:49:50 5.1 BALLYDESMOND............................................................................................................... 40 5.2 BALLYHEA ........................................................................................................................... 40 5.3 BALLYNOE .......................................................................................................................... 41 5.4 BARTLEMY........................................................................................................................... 41 5.5 BRIDEBRIDGE...................................................................................................................... 42 5.6 CASTLEMAGNER ............................................................................................................... 43 5.7 CECILSTOWN .................................................................................................................... 43 5.8 CULLEN................................................................................................................................ 44 5.9 DERNAGREE ....................................................................................................................... 45 5.10 FREEMOUNT....................................................................................................................... 45 5.11 GLANTANE......................................................................................................................... 46 5.12 KILBRIN ................................................................................................................................ 46 5.13 KILCORNEY......................................................................................................................... 47 5.14 KISKEAM ............................................................................................................................. 47 5.15 KNOCKNAGREE................................................................................................................ 48 5.16 LISCARROLL........................................................................................................................ 48 5.17 LOMBARDSTOWN............................................................................................................ 49 5.18 LYRE...................................................................................................................................... 50 5.19 MEELIN................................................................................................................................. 50 5.20 NADD................................................................................................................................... 51 5.21 RATHCOOL......................................................................................................................... 51 5.22 SHANBALLYMORE............................................................................................................. 52 5.23 GLENVILLE .......................................................................................................................... 53 For inspection purposes only. 6 REFERENCES .........................................Consent of copyright owner required................................................... for any other use. 54 Natura Impact Statement Page 4 EPA Export 30-04-2011:03:49:50 APPENDICES APPENDIX 1 – NATURA 2000 SITE INFORMATION................................. 58 APPENDIX 2 – BALLYDESMOND SCREENING & ASSESSMENT.............. 61 APPENDIX 3 – BALLYHEA SCREENING ....................................................... 69 APPENDIX 4 – BALLYNOE SCREENING ...................................................... 74 APPENDIX 5 – BARTLEMY SCREENING....................................................... 79 APPENDIX 6 – BRIDEBRIDGE SCREENING.................................................